Nobody expected the Washington Commanders to be in playoff contention in Year 1 of head coach Dan Quinn's tenure. Now that they are, this new-look roster must take advantage of the opportunity.
The Commanders find themselves in the seventh seed coming back from their much-needed bye week. They are one game behind the sixth-placed Green Bay Packers and one game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams. It's a high-stakes situation with almost no margin for error.
Washington's young guns have been a revelation so far. But with the business end of the campaign upon them, Quinn is looking to those with more experience to navigate their journey into the proverbial unknown.
Now more than ever, veterans will be tasked with keeping everyone calm and motivated. Most are new to the organization following general manager Adam Peters' drastic roster overhaul throughout the recruitment period. However, they've been in high-pressure situations before and know how to conduct themselves.
Dan Quinn counting on veteran experience within the Commanders
This has been the catalyst behind Washington's outstanding culture shift in a relatively short timeframe. Quinn is also hoping it can count for something when things matter more down the stretch.
"Part of them being here, you don't want someone to come into a new spot and have to be somebody different. You wanted to make sure that they could be expressed exactly who they are, what they've seen, what they've demonstrated to go. … When it comes time and you get into December and January football, you lean on players like that."
- Dan Quinn
The Commanders are playing with house money to a certain extent if they make the playoffs. Getting there is the tricky part.
Focusing on themselves and taking care of business is the best way to firmly cement their status. Worrying about things outside of their control is useless.
Pressure breaks pipes. The Commanders have dealt with most challenges well this season. But there are countless cases in league history of teams choking and players tightening up at the worst possible time. Quinn, his coaches, and the veteran players need to be at the forefront over the next month, providing composure amid the chaos.
Washington has some winnable games upcoming. They face two NFC South teams and two division rivals before their fate is confirmed one way or another. The pending return of stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore is well-timed and adds another player who's been right to the top for the Commanders to depend upon.
The likes of Jayden Daniels, Mike Sainristil, and other rookies played in plenty of big games at the college level. They'll know how to prepare effectively and ignore the outside noise. However, the NFL is a different beast entirely and any weakness will be exploited accordingly.
Peters did a great job of bringing in the perfect blend of youth and experience. The Commanders are not the finished product just yet, but their impressive campaign overall represents a solid foundation to grow into a team capable of contending annually.
There's no substitute for experience. The Commanders need this more than ever to ensure they meet rising expectations.
